NWT Nominee Program opens with updated selection process
The Northwest Territories (NWT) Nominee Program’s Employer-Driven and Francophone streams will open on March 9, 2026, at 9 a.m. MST.
For 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada allocated 197 nominations to the NWT for the Nominee Program. Additionally, the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has introduced a new application selection process, specifically for the Employer-Driven Stream.
A key change for 2026 is the introduction of an Expression of Interest system for the Employer-Driven Stream, designed to make the program fairer, more transparent and better aligned with territorial workforce and economic needs.
Under this model, employers submit an Expression of Interest on behalf of a foreign national they wish to nominate and that meet the eligibility criteria. Employers register, create an online account, and select the Employer-Driven stream. The foreign national then completes an Expression of Interest survey, which provides the GNWT with a profile of the foreign national applicant. The GNWT will then review profiles and assign a score using a points-based system that considers factors such as work experience and the NWT’s labour market needs, education, language skills and connection to the NWT.
Profiles will be ranked based on their scores, and employers of the highest-ranking candidates will be invited through scheduled Expression of Interest draws to submit an application, which will be assessed in order of work permit expiry date. Only employers who receive an invitation to apply may proceed to the application stage. This approach will allow the program to remain open year-round.
This new approach to screening applicants will allow the GNWT to more effectively manage demand for the program and prioritize Nominees who are most likely to settle and contribute long-term to communities in the NWT, particularly as interest in the program continues to exceed available nomination spaces. Expression of Interest systems are used by many provinces and territories across Canada.
The Expression of Interest system is the result of feedback gathered during public engagement in September 2025. Employers, prospective immigrants, and community members emphasized the need for clearer intake processes, greater transparency, and stronger alignment between the Nominee Program and territorial labour market needs. A summary of this engagement is available in the What We Heard Report.
The GNWT expects to conduct several Expression of Interest draws throughout the year, beginning on March 25, 2026. For the first draw, up to 65 eligible applicants will be selected and invited to submit an application. Information on the number of applicants selected as well as the range of scores for selected applicants will be shared online.
Both the Francophone and Business streams will continue to operate separately and remain open on a first-come, first-served basis, as these streams are not oversubscribed and would not benefit from an Expression of Interest process.
To immigrate through the NWT Nominee Program, you must have a valid full-time and permanent job offer from an NWT employer or be prepared to open, purchase, or invest in a business in the NWT. The program offers three streams: Employer-Driven, Francophone, and Business.
For more information visit www.immigratenwt.ca.
“What we heard clearly through engagement is that people want a system that is fair, transparent, and focused on applicants who are building their lives in the Northwest Territories. The new Expression of Interest system responds directly to that feedback by making the Northwest Territories Nominee Program easier to understand, more predictable, and better aligned with NWT labour market needs. While nomination allocations are ultimately set by the Government of Canada, working collaboratively with the Federal Government to improve how our program operates within the federal framework is imperative. These changes will ensure the NWT benefits from the talent it needs and help more newcomers build lasting roots in our communities—strengthening the both the territory’s social and economic vibrancy for the long term.”
Quick Facts
- Immigration is an important workforce strategy in the Northwest Territories, and the Nominee Program is critical to helping us address persistent workforce shortages in key sectors.
- The Northwest Territories Nominee Program allows the GNWT to nominate foreign nationals for permanent residency who intend to live and work in the NWT and meet territorial labour-market needs.
- Nomination allocations for all provinces and territories are set annually by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
- The GNWT will continue to engage with the Government of Canada to ensure federal immigration programs and services reflect the unique workforce and population needs of the Northwest Territories.